Onondaga women join men in national title game

Herkimer, NY - The second time was harder. Perhaps that was why it was so much sweeter.

The Onondaga County College women's lacrosse team went on a 7-2 run in the middle portion of the game and defeated top-seeded CCBC Catonsville 13-11 Saturday afternoon at Wehrum Stadium on the campus of Herkimer CC to advance to today's 1:30 p.m. national championship game. OCC defeated the Maryland team 11-9 earlier in the season.

Not bad for a first-year, program, eh?

"It's awesome," coach Amy Spin said. "We're ready. Everything is rolling in our favor. We'll see if we can finish it tomorrow."

The Lazers (14-1) burst onto the national scene back on March 28-29 when they traveled to the Baltimore area and defeated Anne Arundel and Catonsville (16-2), the No. 1 and 2 teams in the nation at the time. Spin suspected Saturday's rematch would be a sterner challenge.

"Oh yeah," she said. "Oh yes. The first time they didn't know what to expect with us, and this time they knew we were for real. They came out with everything they had. They're a great team, a well-coached team. We were ready to go, though."

Both teams appeared ready to go at the outset, trading four-goal runs early. At the tail end of Catonsville's, which gave it a 6-5 lead with 13 minutes, 56 seconds left before intermission, Spin trusted her gut and replaced starting goalie Maggie Doerle (Corcoran) with fellow freshman Brittany Baran (Auburn).

"I have two great goalies," Spin said. "Maggie has always been our starter, and then depending on how things are going we'll switch it at the half or switch it a little earlier. We just happened to make the switch a little earlier."

The decision was golden. With Baran making several quality saves and the defense stiffening in front of her, OCC's balanced offense went to work and outscored the Catonsville 5-1 to take a 10-7 lead at the break. Liz Manipole (Corcoran) assisted on a goal by Lyndsay Malecki (C.W. Baker) and scored a pair herself, and Lauren Welch (West Genesee) and Jessica Chalpunicki (Skaneateles) added single tallies in the run.

"That's what is so good about us," said freshman attack Chelsey Dean (Marcellus), who led the team with six points (2-4). "We have a lot of players who can score. It makes us difficult to defend."

"That was it," Spin said. "Spread it around. We've got seven great offensive starters, and I believe five of them showed up today and put at least two in the net. That's all it takes."

The game's torrid pace took a decided turn after the break, as high winds and dark clouds swirled onto the scene, soon to be followed by a heavy downpour. The Lazers, seeming to note the worsening conditions, their limited success at the draw control circle and Baran's steady hand in the cage, valued possession over transition. They kept the ball away from Catonsville's offense for large stretches while expanding their lead to 12-8 before the first clap of thunder halted play with 13:17 remaining.

When play resumed they stuck with the strategy and held on for the victory, although it took a great low stick save by Baran on Lacey Bevilacqua with under a minute to play to make it official.

"My defense held her to a bad angle," Baran said, "and I was just lucky to come up with the save, I guess. Got my stick down. I've been working on it all season."

The goalie admitted to feeling some nerves when she entered the game but said she fed on the energy rather than let it get to her.

"The first save was big," she said. "Once I make the first one, I know I'm good to go."